Boo Humbug

I really enjoy the characters in this series! It' been a while since I read 1-3, and it was easy enough to pick up where I left off. Never know what to expect (except the unexpected!) from Skary, Indiana!

I've read the entire Boo Series so I know the characters well. It is a short book, perfect to curl up on the couch with the tree lights, chocolate, cookies and indulge. I laughed so hard I cried and then some of those tears became from being touched by the message Gutteridge put into the book. I was laughing so hard at the end my husband came out and I read out loud the last 20 pages or so, he was laughing so hard he was crying too. Great book, great message.

Boo Humbug is fun and entertaining. My only complaint is that the book is too short. The characters are so quirky and fun that I wanted it to go on for awhile longer. But that's actually a compliment.

Welcome back to Skary, just in time for the holiday season! Lois, the town's budding playwright, has got it set in her mind that the town will put on a Christmas play this year. Not just any play, her revised version of the Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. Since Lois is in charge, chaos ensues. Wolfe feels like this play will be a flop but he goes along with it to escape the doldrums of being a father. Meanwhile his editor, Alfred Tennison, keeps avoiding being in the play but instead helps out with marketing. His efforts have hyped up the play so much that hundreds are planning to come by for opening night. But is the marketing deceiving? Will the show go on as planned? I love going back to Skary for the holidays. It's always gives a good laugh and the characters are insane but lovable. Lois drives me nuts again. Her intentions are good but man, would I go crazy if I had to be in her play. It was funny thought reading about her insistence on having things try to go her way even though her warped mind can't see how wrong it would be. I found it hilarious that Lois told Dustin to follow poor Ainsley around because she is the picture of optimism. Poor Ainsley because right then she is anything but optimistic thanks to Wolf shirking fatherly duties. Surprisingly, Melb didn't annoy me like she had in the other books. She was being a tad overprotective with her son but then what new mother isn't? So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself not wanting to skip over her appearances. Both her and Ainsley reactions to being mothers are refreshing and it's also fun to read about Oliver and Wolfe's new experiences to fatherhood. The comment about changing diapers from two different perspectives was a hoot. Alfred's scenes were wonderful especially the scene at the end which was very moving and heartwarming. While this book is short, it's great fun to read. It's never preachy but the true meaning of Christmas is obvious. It will definately get you in the mood for the holidays. And if you happen to be a Scrooge, look out: you will get a smile on your face after reading this book.

Encouraged to think outside the box by her theatre teacher Professor Watson, Lois Stepaphanolopolis dreams of a special production of A Christmas Carol for the Skary, Indiana theatre. Her plan is turn the Dickens' classic into a horror thriller. She writes a play, but everyone involved with the Stepaphanolopolis rendition struggles to understand it; perhaps because several films have adhered to the original classic and those that took some license did not stray anywhere near afar as Lois is pushing. Still the residents of Skary want to rally around their playwright that is if they can comprehend the message of her strange version that has Charles Dickens would haunt Stepaphanolopolis if he could come back from the grave. Rene Gutteridge's "Boo" tales are some of the best inspirational stories on the market today (see BOO and BOO WHO). The latest winner BOO HUMBUG focuses on the Skary townsfolk rallying in support of Lois although many think her concept is dumb and those who do not for the most part cannot understand what she is doing. Readers will appreciate this fine novel as it takes a village to change a classic. Harriet Klausner